Apparatus for making welding electrodes



Dec. 8, 1936. H. R. GEI-:R 2,063,497

APPARATUS FOR MAKING WELDING ELECTRQDES Filed June 2o, 1935 2sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 8, 1936. H, R, GEER 2,063,497

APPARATUS FOR MAKING WELDING ELECTRODES Filed June 20, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 2 a f i ff i Uff ff if@ if uw j? 6' l f6 j? 7,?

Patented Dec. 8, 1936 PATENT 'OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING WELDINGELECTRODES Harry B. Geer, Westmont, Pa., assigner to Bethleliem SteelCompany, a corporation of Pennsyivania Application June 20.

36 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for manufacturingelectrodes for use in electric arc-welding, and more especially to amachine for producing wire or rod electrodes provided with a weldingflux or arc-sustaining material incorporated therewith for the purposeof stabilizing the arc and preventing the inclusion of deleteriousmaterials, and having characteristics advantageous for either hand orautomatic arc welding.

In order to simplify the description herein I will refer to the stockmaterial from which the electrode is formed, as a rod, but I Wish itunderstood that this would apply to a wire or bar or the like stockmaterial that could be operated on in a similar manner.

One of the objects of my invention relates to the manner of, guiding theadvancing rod inl forming the electrodes between cutting or groovingrolls adapted to produce longitudinal grooves therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for adjusting thecutting rolls to vary the depth of the grooves formed in the rod.

Another object of my invention relates to the manner of simultaneouslyswinging the cutting rolls laterally out of the path of the rod throughthe machine, so that the rod may be quickly inserted between the cuttingrolls before initially starting the grooving, fiux applying and drawingoperations.

Another object of my invention relates to the manner of pivotallymounting the cutting rolls in opposed relation to each other in such away that they can be individually or collectively adjusted.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for disposingfluxingmaterial in the longitudinal grooves formed in the rod and thendrawing the rod through a die to compress the fluxing material in thelongitudinal grooves and to slightly reduce the size of the rod and thewidth of the grooves thereby removing any irregularities in the surfaceof the electrode so it may be bent or otherwise roughly handled withoutdislodging the fluxing material.

Other objects will appear hereafter.

Referring now to the accompanying two sheets of drawings which form apart of this specification and on which like characters of referenceindicate like parts:-

Figure l is a front end elevation of my invention and illustrating aportion of a drawing bench or the like upon which it is mounted.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of my appa- 1935, Serial No. 27,507

ratus detached taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but drawnon a larger scale` Figure 3 illustrates a plurality of enlargedtransverse sections of completed welding rods which may be formed in mymachine.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the cruciform adjusting supporttaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section through the center of thecutting rolls, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section through the iiux box taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 'i-'I ofFigure 2 illustrating the manner of attaching the inner ends of thelinks for supportingthe cutting rolls to the sliding spider, and Fig. 8is a detail section through one of the arms of the cruciform support andthe adjusting block mounted thereon, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

With my invention the rod is drawn between the cutting rolls, flux boxand die box in the direction indicated by the arrow, by any suitable rodor wire drawing bench mechanism provided with a stock reel from whichthe rod stock is received and fed through my improved machine by meansof a drawing block adapted to receive and coil the finished electrode,from which point it may be shipped and sold in coils for use inautomatic arc welding machines, or cut into straight ,pieces of thedesired lengths and assembled and tied up in bundles of convenient sizesfor handling, adapted for use in hand welding machines.

Referring now to the various characters of reference on the drawingsz--Adrawing bench or the like is indicated at I, upon which is mounted andsecured a support 2, provided with upwardly extending spaced arms 3,each formed with a. threaded perforation 4, at their upper ends forreceiving adjustable bolts 5, which are held in position by means oflock nuts 6, and provided with trunnion projections 1, adapted forswivel engagement with the eyes 8 of bracket arms 9, which project fromopposite sides of the front of a spider I0, said bracket arms 9 beingriveted to the spider I0 as at II. Y

The spider I Il is adapted to support the machine and is provided withan annular body portion I2 provided with a central forwardly extendingtubular portion I3, formed with kerfs at its outer end as at I4 adaptedto support a centering sleeve I5, having a longitudinally extendingtubular guideway I6, and slots I1, in alignment and registering with thekerfs I4. A

boss il extends' rearwardly from the central rear portion of the annularbody portion Il of the spider and is provided with a socket I I. forreceiving the forward closed' end 20, of a tubular flux box 2L which iskeyed to the rear reduced end 23 oi' the centering sleeve IB as at 22,and to the boss i8, and is-iurther held in position on the centeringsleeve i by means oi' a nut 24.

The tubular flux box 2| is open at the top as at 26 for inserting theiiux material 28, its rear end being formed with a laterally extendingflange 2l which is perforated as at 2l and recessed as at 29 forreceiving a guide ring 30, said guide ring 30 being perforated centrallyas at 3l for guiding the rod i2 to the forming opening 33 in the die'clock 34 for compressing the ux material and removing irregularities inthe surface oi the rod to form the finished electrode 35.

The die block 34 is removable to allow for replacement or for diierentsized openings, the dies being held in position by means of a clampplate 3S which is connected to the laterally extending iange 2? et therear of the ilux box by means of bolts 3l which have their ends threadedand passed through the perforations 28 and secured in position by meansof nuts 38.

forward end of the centering sleeve M is counter-'cored es at 38, toform a socket for the reception of a tubular shaped guide 40, forreceiving and guiding the rod 32 to the cutting rolls L said guide illbeing preferably notched at its rear end the passage of le edges of grails di, and hanged and formed with i i end as at 42 to engage a radialin the front end the center-n Wln- 'tubular shaped guide 3 is rreplacement or for gai-dm to the other end of the ceo A m..- c. Millarda',

s 65, famed seein spaced 53, r the cutting rolls ily and *ai ts fortheir forward ends.

\'I s C t, `coved centrally on opposite i and 58 for the passage of thecircumferential portions of the cutting rolls 4l and the ending arms d@of the adjusting support respectively. One of the ends of each of thepins 55 is riveted as at 5S to one of the supporting for said cuttingrolls, while the other end is threaded and has a nut 6U threaded thereonas indicated .more clearly in Figure 8 of the drawings.

The rear end of pair of supporting links 5G for the cutting rolls il ispvoted in a similar mannerastheforward endsby means ofspin 4|, to aconnecting link l2 which is pivoted bymeansoiapinasattoapairoiearsuextending from the iront iace of the spiderIl.

As indicated in the drawings four cutting rolls s 4I disposed atrightangles to each other are adapted to form equi-spaced longitudinalVgrooves `in the rod. Each groove being formed at 90 of its axis. but agreater or less number of cutting rolls 4I may be used to form thegrooves ii desired.'

An anxle has its ends mounted and preferably keyed as at 68 to each pairoi' the spaced supporting links 58. said axles being provided betweeneach pair of supporting links with roller bearings 61 for supporting ahub $8 for the cutting rolls 4l which is keyed thereto as at 49, andheld in position by means oi' a ring nut 10. As the axles 65 are eachprovided with an oil duct li for supplying oil or lubricant to theroller bearings 6l an annular packing ring 12 is seated in a groove oneach end of the hubs B8.

In order to hold the cruclform support normally on the forward end ofthe centering sleeve i5 and the outer ends of the adjusting blocks 41 atall times in contact with the nuts 48, the forward ends of each of thesupporting links 56 have a lea! spring i3 secured thereto by means of aset screw '14. The free ends oi. the springs 13 engaging the rear outercorner edges of the squared central portion 45 of the cruciform supportas clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. For ilustration I haveshown the cutting edges of the rolls Si formed at an angle oi' 45. Tiraangle, however, may he varied and also the depth of the grooves formedin the rod tc produce an electrode provided with greater or lessmaterial. The rod he subjected to diiferent sized drawing dies o varythe cross-sectional area of the after groei/ing operat' sections ofelecenlarged' scale, With grooves of 'roovng rial is the s f passedthrough a dr duce secti cl giti n the cross section indicated at "il,the eiectrade is formed similar to that described for l5, but thelongitudinal rooves are o1 less depth, and in the cross section 'i8 thegrooves are formed with cutting rolls having substantially 30 cuttingedges,

The operation of my apparatus is as follows:- Assurning that the machineis swivelly mounted on a drawing bench or the like as indicated in Fig.l, the drawing bench being provided with a suitable reel for holding acoil of rod stock, and a drawing block preferably having a reel forreceivingthe'ilnished electrode, the parts of the machine being in theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The operator slides the spideri!! back- Ward into the position indicated in dotted lines in saidgure:l thereby swinging the cutting rolls 75 4I out of the path of therod as it passes through the machine. The end of the coil of rod stock32 is then inserted in the guide 40 for the cutting rolls 4I and passedthrough the tubular guideway I6 in the centering sleeve I5, the flux box2 I, guide ring 30, and drawing opening 33 in the die block 34 andthence to the reel on the drawing block (not shown), where it issecured. 'I'he operator then slides the spider I forward into the fullline position at the same time power is applied in the usual manner tothe drawing block to rotate the same and pull the rod through themachine in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. The cuttingrolls 4I will then engage the advancing rod and have a tendency to throwthe links 62 to which the rear ends of supporting links 56 are pivotedinto vertical position against the outer face of the annular bodyposition I2 of the spdier Ill, while the forward ends of the links 56are pivoted to the slidably mounted blocks 41, which are adjustable andheld in position by means of nuts 48 and adapted to adjust the cuttingrolls to producegrooves of greater or less depth in the rod, while theleaf spring 13 resiliently holds the forward ends of the links 56 in araised position against the inner surfaces of the nuts 48 and maintainthe cruciform support in its forward position on the centering sleeveI5. After the grooves are formed in the rod it passes through the fluxbox 2| containing flux material 26, which is preferably in a semiliquidor plastic condition, although in some cases I may prefer to use iiuxmaterial in a pulverized or molten state. The grooved rod is then passedthrough the drawing opening 33 of a die-block 3l, where the fluxmaterial 26 is compressed in the longitudinal grooves, and the crosssectional area reduced and irregularities removed from the surface ofthe rod, from thence the finished electrode is received and reeled onthe drawing block,

where after the run is completed it can be taken off and used in anautomatic welding machine or unwound and cut into straight lengths andthen assembled in bundles. The operation above described can then berepeated.

Although I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail,I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown anddescribed, but may use substitutions, modifications or equivalentsthereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention, or as pointedout in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent iszy 1. A machine for manufacturing fluxcarrying welding rods, comprising pivotally supported cutting rollsadapted to extrude the metal in forming longitudinal grooves in acylindrical rod as it is advanced through the machine, a flux containingreceptacle through which the rod passes, whereby flux material will besupplied to the grooves, and a drawing die adapted to compress the fluxmaterial in said grooves and remove any irregularities in the surface ofthe rod.

2.' A machine for manufacturing ux carrying Welding rods in a continuousoperation, comprislng a plurality of pivotally supported rotatingcutting rolls ladapted to extrude the metal on opposite sides of theircutting edges in forming a plurality of longitudinal grooves in acylindrical rod as it is advanced in the machine, means for supplyingflux material to the longitudinal removing irregularities in the surfaceof the rod.

3. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rods, comprising aplurality of pairs of aligned pivotally supported cutting rolls betweenwhich a cylindrical rod is drawn to form continuous longitudinal groovesin the peripheral surface of the rod, said cutting rolls adapted toextrude the metal transversely of thefrod in forming the grooves, a fluxbox containing flux material through which the longitudinally groovedrod passes to receive iiux material in the grooves, and a drawing dieadapted to compress the flux material in the longitudinal grooves andremove irregularities in the surface of the rod.

.4. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rods, comprising aplurality of pairs of oppositely aligned pivotally supported cuttingrolls for forming continuous longitudinal grooves in the rod as it iscontinuously advanced through the machine, means for radially adjustingthe cutting rolls, resilient means for holding each cutting roll in itsadjusted position, a flux box containing Vflux material through whichthe rod thus grooved is passed, whereby the flux will enter thelongitudinal grooves, and a drawing die for compressing the ux materialin the longitudinal grooves and remove any irregularities in the surfaceof the rod.

5. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rods, comprising aplurality of pairs of oppositely aligned coacting cutting rolls betweenwhich the rod is adapted to travel to form continuous longitudinalgrooves in the peripheral surface, means for radially adjusting each ofthe cutting rolls individually, means for radially adjusting all of thecutting rolls simultaneously, a flux box containing flux materialthrough which the rod passes to receive flux material in thelongitudinal grooves, and a drawing die for compressing the fluxmaterial in the longitudinal grooves and removing'irregularities fromthe surface of the rod.

6. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rods, comprisingopposedly arranged coacting rotating cutting rolls adapted to extrudethe metal laterally and form continuous longitudinal grooves in theperipheral surface of the rod as it is continuously advanced between thecutting rolls, means for pivotally supporting the cutting rolls, meansfor applying flux material in the longitudinal grooves, and a drawingdie for compressing the flux material in the longitudinal grooves andfor removing irregularities from the surface of the rod.

7. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rods, comprising apair of coacting cutting rolls pivotally supported on the machine forlongitudinally grooving a solid .cylindrical rod adapted to becontinuously advanced through the machine, resilient means for holdingthe cutting rolls in spaced relation, means for applying flux materialin the longitudinal grooves of the continuously advancing rod, and adrawing die for compressing the iiux material in the longitudinalgrooves and removing irregularities from the surface of the rod. -v

8. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes,comprising a plurality of pairs of pivotally supported cutting rolls forlongitudinally grooving a rod adapted to be continuously advancedthrough the machine, means for simultaneously throwing the cutting rollsradially into or out of the path of the rod as it is advanced throughthe machine, means for applying and compressing flux material in thelongitudinal grooves of the traveling rod,and means for drawing the rodthrough a die for removing irregularities from the surface of the rod toform the electrode.

9. A machine for manufacturing ilux carrying welding rod electrodes in acontinuous operation,

, comprising means pivotally supported for longitudinally grooving acylindrical rod on a plurality of diametrically opposite surfaces, meansfor applying flux material in the longitudinal grooves, and means forremoving irregularities in the surface of the rod to form the nishedelectrode.

10. A machine for manufacturing ux carrying welding rod electrodes in acontinuous operation, comprising pivotally mounted cutting rolls forlongitudinally grooving a cylindrical rod on diametrically oppositesurfaces as it is continuously advanced through the machine, resilientmeans for holding the cutting edges of the rolls in relatively xedspaced relation, means for applying ux material in the longitudinalgrooves thus formed, and a drawing die adapted to continuously compressthe flux material in the longitudinal grooves and remove irregularitiesin the surface of the rod.

11. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising pivotally supported cutting rollsadapted to form longitudinal grooves in a plurality ofdiametricallyropposite surfaces of the rod as it is advanced through themachine, means for simultaneously throwing the cutting* rolls into orout of engagement with the rod, a flux box containing iiux materialthrough which the grooved rod passes whereby the said flux material willbe supplied to the longitudinal grooves, and a drawing die forcompressing the flux material in the grooves and for smoothing thesurface of the rod after the preceding operations.

12. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying rod electrodes in acontinuous operation, comprising opposed coacting cutting rolls adaptedto extrude the metal laterally and form continuous longitudinal groovesin a cylindrical rod as it is continuously advanced through the machine,means for simultaneously throwing the cutting rolls radially into or outof the path of the rod through the machine, means for applying mixmaterial to the longitudinal grooves, and a drawing die adapted tocompress the ux material in the grooves and reduce the cross sectionalarea of the rod to form the finished electrode.l

13. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying rod electrodes in acontinuous operation, comprising cutting rolls adapted to be rotated bythe traveling rod and extrude the metal on each side of the rolls toform longitudinal grooves in said rod as it is continuously advancedthrough the machine, means for guiding the rod to the cutting rolls,means for simultaneously throwing the cutting rolls radially into or outof the path of the rod through the machine, pivotal means for supportingeach of the cutting rolls, a flux box through which the grooved rodpasses whereby flux material will be applied to the said longitudinalgrooves, and a drawing die adapted to compress the ux material in thelongitudinal grooves and reduce the cross sectional area of the rod toform the nished electrode.

i4. A machine for manufacturing fiux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising cutting rolls adapted to be rotatedby the rod and form continuous longitudinal grooves therein as it isadvanced through the machine, a pair of spaced links for supporting eachcutting roll having their ends pivoted to the machine. means forradially adjusting the cutting rolls,

resilient means for holding the cutting rolls in their adjustedpositions, and means for inserting and compressing nux material in thelongitudinal grooves.

15. A machine for manufacturing ux carrying welding rod electrodes in acontinuous operation, a centering sleeve having a 'guideway formedtherein adapted to guide the rod as it is advanced through the machine,a spider slidably s mounted on one end of the centering sleeve, a

cruciform support mounted on the opposite end of the centering sleeve, aplurality of pairs of links having their ends pivotally connected to thespider and the cruciform support, axles having their opposite endssupported in each pair of links, a cutting-roll mounted on the axlesbetween each pair of links, means for radially adjusting the cuttingrolls, and means for inserting and compressing flux material in thelongitudinal grooves.

16. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising a centering sleeve, a tubularguideway extending through the centering sleeve adapted to guide the rodas it is advanced through the machine, slots extending through thecentering sleeve at an intermediate point, cutting rolls extending intothe slots for penetrating the rod thereby extruding the metal to formlongitudinal grooves therein, means for simultaneously throwing thecutting rolls into or out of engagement with the rod, a flux boxcontaining ux material through which the grooved rod passes to receiveflux material in the longitudinal grooves, and a drawing die adapted tocompress the flux material in the longitudinal grooves and reduce thecross sectional area of the rod.

17. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation having a plurality of longitudinally extendingV-shaped grooves formed therein around the periphery of said electrodewith ux material within said longitudinal grooves, comprising aplurality of pairs of coacting cutting rolls for grooving the rod, meansfor simultaneously throwing the cutting rolls into or out of engagementwith the rod, a iiux box containing iiux material through which thegrooved rod passes to receive ux material in the longitudinal grooves,and a drawing die adapted to compress the iiux material in thelongitudinal grooves and reduce the cross sectional area of the rod.

18. A machine for manufacturing ux carrying welding rod electrodes in acontinuous operation having a plurality of equi-spaced longitudinallyextending grooves formed therein around the periphery of the electrodewith fiux material rmly held within said longitudinal grooves,comprising a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed cutting rollsadapted to extrude the metal and form longitudinal grooves in the rod asit is advanced through the machine, means for radially adjusting thecutting rolls, means for simultaneously throwing the cutting rolls intoor out of cutting engagement with the rod, a flux box provided with iiuxmaterial through which the rod is passed, and a drawing die forcompressing the flux material in the grooves and reducing the crosssectional area of the rod.

19. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising oppositely disposed cutting rollspivotauy atm-ned to the machine adapted to 1i form longitudinal groovesin the rod as it is continuously advanced through the machine, means forsimultaneously throwing the cutting rolls into or out of cuttingengagement with the rod, a flux box containing flux material throughwhich the rod is passed to receive flux material in the grooves, and adrawing die for compressing the flux material in the longitudinalgrooves and smooth the outer surface of the rod.

20. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes` ina continuous operation, comprising a centering sleeve having a guldewayformed therein through which the rod' is ad-` vanced, transverse slotsformed at an intermediate point through the centering sleeve, a spiderslidably mounted on one end of the centering sleeve, a support havingradially extending arms mounted on the opposite end of the centeringsleeve, cutting rolls extending into the transverse slots in thecentering sleeve, links for supporting the cutting rolls having theirends pivotally attached to the spider and the radially extending arms,means for adjusting the cutting rolls to vary the depth of the groovecut in the rod, a flux box containing flux material secured to thecentering sleeve through which the rod is advanced to receive fluxmaterial in the longitudinal grooves, and a drawing die adapted tocompress the flux material in the longitudinal grooves and reduce thecross sectional area of the bar.

21. A machine f or manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising a plurality of oppositely alignedcoacting cutting rolls for longitudinally grooving the rod, a movablesupport for the cutting rolls,

a flux box connected to the support for the cutting rolls containingflux material throughl which the rod thus formed is passed, and adrawing die connected to the flux box adapted to compress the fluxmaterial in the longitudinal grooves and reduce the cross sectional areaof the rod.

22. A machine for manufacturing ux carrying welding rod electrodes in acontinuous operation, cutting rolls for longitudinally grooving the rodon diametrically opposite surfaces, links having their opposite endspivotally connected to the machine for supporting the cutting rolls,means for radially adjusting the pivoted outer ends of the supportinglinks for the cutting rolls, means for simultaneously radially swingingthe pivoted inner ends of said supporting links, a flux box containingflux material through which the rod is passed to receive flux materialin the grooves, and a drawing die adapted to compress the flux materialin the longitudinal grooves and smooth the cuter surface of the rod.

23. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising cutting rolls adapted to formlongitudinal grooves in diametrically opposite surfaces of the rod, apair of supporting links for each cutting roll, an axle for each cuttingroll having their ends supported at intermediate points in the pair oflinks, means for radially adjusting the ends of the supporting links forthe cutting rolls, means for simultaneously throwing the cutting rollsinto or out of engagement with the rod, a flux box containing fluxmaterial through which the grooved rod is passed to receive fluxmaterial in the grooves, and means for compresst ing the flux materialin the longitudinal grooves and smooth the outer surface of the rod.

24. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising means 'for guiding the rod as it isadvanced through the machine, a plurality of pairs of coacting cuttingrolls adapted to longitudinallygroove the rod on diametrically oppositesurfaces, means for radially adjusting the 5 cutting rolls, resilientmeans for holding the cutting rolls in relatively fixed relation afteradjustment, a flux box containing flux material through which thegrooved rod passes whereby flux material will be supplied to thegrooves, and a drawing 10 die adapted to compress the flux material inthe longitudinal grooves and, smooth the outer surface of the rod.

25. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes,comprising a centering 15 sleeve having means for guiding the rod as itis advanced through the machine, transversely extending slots formed inthe intermediate portion of the centering sleeve, a spider mounted .onone end of the centering sleeve, a support having radial arms mounted onthe opposite end oi the centering sleeve to that of the spider, aplurality of pairs of links having their ends pivotally connected to thespider and the radial arms of the s25 support, an axle having its endsmounted in the intermediate portions of each pair of links, a cuttingroll mounted on each axle between said pairs of links. and extendinginto the transversely extending slots formed in the centering sleeve 30adapted to groove the advancing rod, means for radially adjusting thecutting rolls, a flux box containing flux material through which thegrooved rod is passed whereby ilux material will be supplied to thegrooves, and a drawing die 35 adapted to compress the flux material inthe 1on-' gitudinal grooves and smooth the outer surface of the rod.

26. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous opera- 40 tion, comprising a centering sleeve having aguideway for the rod as it is advanced through the machine, oppositelydisposed transverse slots formed in the intermediate portion of thecentering sleeve, means mounted on the opposite ends 4|;A

of the centering sleeve for pivotally supporting the ends of a pluralityof pairs of links, an axle having its ends supported by the intermediateportion of each pair of links, a cutting: roll mounted on each axlebetween each pair of said 50 links and projecting into the transverseslots formed in the centering sleeve adapted to groove the rod as it isadvancedl through the machine,

a flux box containing flux material through which the grooved rod passesto receive the flux mate- 55 rial in the longitudinal grooves, and adrawing die adapted to compress the flux material and smooth the outersurface of the rod.

27. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising means for guiding the rod as it isadvanced through the machine, a cutting roll adapted to longitudinallygroove the rod, supporting means for the cutting roll adapted bylongitudinal movement to radially throw the cutting roll into or out ofengagement with the rod, means for supplying flux material to thelongitudinal groove, and a drawing die adapted to compress the fluxmaterial in the longitudinal groove 70' and smooth the outer surface ofthe rod.

28. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes,comprising means for guiding the rod as it is advanced through themachine, a pair of spaced links connected tou gether at an intermediatepoint by an axle, a cutting roll mounted on the axle between the spacedlinks adapted to longitudinally groove the rod, a vertically adjustableblock for pivotally supporting one end of the pair of spaced links, aspider pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the spaced links forsupporting the cutting roll, said spider being slidably movable toradially swing the cutting roll into or out of engagement with the rod,a flux box containing flux material through which the grooved rod ispassed to receive flux material in the longitudinal groove, and adrawing die adapted to compress the flux material in the longitudinalgroove and smooth the outer surface of the rod.

29. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising means ior guiding the rod as it isadvanced through the machine, a plurality of outing rolls adapted toform longitudinal grooves in the rod, a sliding spider adapted to throwthe cutting rolls into or out of engagement with the rod, a flux boxcontaining ux material through which the rod is advanced to receive fluxmaterial in the longitudinal grooves, and a drawing die adapted tocompress the flux material in the longitudinal grooves and smooth theouter surface of the rod.

30. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes,comprising means for guiding the rod as it is advanced through themachine, a plurality of pairs of cutting rolls arranged in opposedrelation adapted to form longitudinally extending grooves in thediametrically opposite surface of the rod, means for radially adjustingthe cutting rolls, means for introducing flux material into the grooves,and a drawing die adapted to compress theilux material in the groovesand smooth the outer surface of the rod.

31. A machine for manufacturing ilux carrying welding rod electrodes,comprising means for guiding the rod as it is advanced through themachine, a plurality of cutting rolls arranged in aligned opposedrelation adapted to be rotated by the advancing rod and formlongitudinally extending grooves in the peripheral surface of the rod, apair of spaced links having their ends pivotally connected to themachine for supporting each cutting roll, a iiux box containing iiuxmaterial through which the rod is passed for introducing flux materialinto the longitudinal grooves, and adrawing die adapted to compress theilux material in the grooves and smooth the outer surface of the rod.

32. A machine for manufacturing flux carrying welding rod electrodes,comprising a centering sleeve having guideways formed therein adapted toguide the rod as it is advanced through the machine, transverse slotsformed in the intermediate portion of the centering sleeve, a supporthaving radial arms mounted on the outer end of the centering sleeve, aspider having an outwardly projecting tubular extension and an inwardlyextending boss with a socket formed therein mounted on the inner end ofthe centering sleeve, a plurality of pairs of spaced links eachconnected together at an intermediate point by an axle, ears on theforward surface of the spider pivotally connected to the inner ends ofthe spaced links, a cutting roll extending into the transverse slots inthe centering sleeve mounted on each axle between the spaced linksadapted to longitudinally groove the rod as it travels through themachine, an adjustable bloei: mounted on each radial am;

support pivotally connected to the outer ends of each pair of spacedlinks, a ilux box secured to the inner end of the centering sleevecontaining flux material through which the rod passes whereby fluxmaterial will be supplied to the longitudinal grooves, and a drawing dieadapted to compress the flux material in the grooves and smooth theouter surface of the rod; g

33. A machine for manufacturing ilux carrying welding rod electrodes,comprising cutting rolls for longitudinally grooving a rod as it isadvanced through the machine, sliding means for swinging the cuttingrolls into or out of engagement with the rod, a fiux containingreceptacle through which the rod passes whereby flux material will besupplied to the grooves, and a drawing die adapted to compress the uxmaterial and Irlartially close the grooves about said flux mate- 34. Amachine for manufacturing ilux carrying welding rod electrodes in acontinuous operation, a centering sleeve having a guideway formedtherein adapted to guidethe rod as it is advanced through the machine, aspider slidably mounted on one end of the centering sleeve, a supporthaving radially extending arms and a square central Y portion mounted onthe opposite end of the centering sleeve, an adjustable block mounted oneach radially extending arm, a plurality of cutting rolls adapted tolongitudinally groove the rod in its travel through the machine, an axlehaving its bearings located centrally in a pair of spaced links forsupporting each cutting roll, a pivotal link connection between one endof each pair of said links and the spider, a pivotal connection betweenthe opposite end of each pair of links and the adjustable block mountedon each radially extending arm of the support, an adjusting nut threadedon each radially extending arm for limiting the movement of theadjustable blocks in one direction, resilient means secured to one endof the spaced links and engaging the square central portion of thesupport for holding the adjustable blocks against the nuts, a flux boxsecured to the centering sleeve containing ilux material through whichthe rod passes whereby flux material will be supplied in the grooves,and a drawing die secured to the ilux box adapte!! to compress the fluxmaterial in the grooves and smooth the outer surface of the rod.

35. A machine for manufacturing ilux carrying welding rod electrodes ina continuous operation, comprising a centering sleeve having guidewaysformed therein through which the rod is advanced, slots formed at anintermediate point through the centering sleeve, a support keyed vto theouter end of the centering sleeve having radially extending arms, aspider having an outwardly tubular extension and an inwardly extendingboss formed with a socket slidably mounted on the inner end of thecentering sleeve, cutting rolls for longitudinally grooving the rod ondiametrically opposite surfaces, links having their opposite endspivotally connected to the radially extending arms of the support andthe spider, a iiux box containing flux material through which the rodpasses to receive flux material in the grooves, said flux box having itsouter end extending into the socket of the boss and keyed therein andrigidly secured to the inner end of the centering sleeve, and a drawingdie secured to the inner end of the flux box adapted to compress theflux material in the longitudinal grooves and smooth the outer surfaceof the rod.

36. A machine for manufacturing iiux carry- 1g i mmm ,i www ting rollsinto or out of engagement with the rod, a flux containing receptaclethrough which the rod passes whereby flux material will be supplied tothe grooves, and a drawing die adapted to compress the flux material andsmooth the out- 5 y er surface of the rod.

HARRY R. GEER.

